In the weeks leading up to the famous crossing of the Delaware River during the Revolutionary War, it has been said that General George Washington made some of his battle plans to lead the volunteer Continental Army in Pittstown. It is without doubt, that volunteer sprit from our community helped propel our new country to success during that pivotal period. Over 200 years later, much of that sprit and sense of community remains.
Founded in 1914 and reorganized in 1951, the Quakertown Fire Company (ISO Rating 5/9) is a volunteer fire company located in a fast-growing area of Hunterdon County. Quakertown Fire provides services, which include and is not limited to fire suppression, fire prevention, vehicle rescue, and FAST (Firefighter Assistance and Search Team).
The volunteers of Quakertown come from many different backgrounds and do many different things. Whether a college student or a business owner, the 60 members of QFC share one thing, the passion to protect our community and its citizens. We accept membership from anyone over the age of 14. Training, equipment, and medical examinations are all free. All we require is the desire to make a difference.
The Quakertown Fire Company has always striven to be a progressive organization. Over the last 30 years, our members have been instrumental in major changes within the local fire service.
These changes include:
- Hunterdon County's first fire department operated rescue truck (91-82)
- Hunterdon County's first rescue-engine (91-68)
- The formation of the Hunterdon County Technical Rescue Task Force
- One of the first two fire departments to join the Hunterdon County Technical Rescue Task Force, along with the City of Lambertville Fire Department
- Beginning efforts to provide on scene decontamination and reduce fire-related cancer as a result of carcinogen exposure
- Becoming one of two fire departments in Hunterdon County to provide Basic Life Support transport services
The biggest change seen in Quakertown was our decision to end our 50-year stint as a independent company in 2002 and to attempt to become the first new Fire District in NJ in over 3 years. We were successful thanks and currently most of our funds for fire-related opertions come from Franklin Twp District No. 1 Board of Fire Commissioners.
Our responses have clearly been on the increase as the area grows in population. In 1980, QFC responded to 65 fire calls. Today we average 523 dispatches and each year it increases.
Our organization will face challenges in the future. Whether it’s the higher burden being placed on our unit or the growing population in the community, the Quakertown Fire Company volunteers will stand ready to protect our citizens.
